Bancroft man pleads guilty to robbing bank

OMAHA | A Bancroft, Nebraska, man pleaded guilty Monday to the April robbery of a Bancroft bank.

Jeffrey Bonneau, 38, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Omaha to single counts of bank robbery and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. His sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 12.

Bonneau walked into First Bank of Bancroft on April 20 while wearing a dark motorcycle helmet and demanding money from the tellers, who recognized his voice. Bonneau fled on an ATV after taking $6,745 from the bank. Officers tracked him to a grove of trees, where he brandished a handgun. After taking cover and waiting for 15 minutes, officers heard Bonneau fire a shot before fleeing on the ATV, court documents said.

Bonneau rolled the ATV and was hospitalized for several days because of his injuries.

Authorities recovered approximately $1,020 in cash from Bonneau's hiding spot and another $4,205 that had been placed in a tree. Bonneau later admitted to robbing the bank and directed officers to the money.

Lenn Zuhlke, 55, of Bancroft, has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting in the robbery, though his role is not defined in court documents. He is scheduled to change his plea on Nov. 27.